Cambodia is a Southeast Asian country located between Vietnam, Laos, Thailand. It is a country with an elective constitutional monarchy (King and Prime Minister).

Local residents are called Cambodians or Khmer.

Khmer and English are spoken there. Sometimes some people also speak French.

The local currency is Riel (4000 Riels = 1 $ or 0.89 Eur). Riel is not an exportable currency. If you have any left, we can redeem you.

The inhabitants are very traditional, which implies a form of respect that any foreigner must have towards not only the inhabitants but also the places.

"Religion" is mainly oriented Buddhism.

The Cambodian Civil War (1967-1975) was a conflict between the forces of the Communist Party of Kampuchea, known as the "Khmer Rouge", their allies in the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam) and the National Front. liberation of South Vietnam (known as Việt Cộng) to those of the Government of the Kingdom of Cambodia (after October 1970, the Khmer Republic), supported by the United States and the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam).

The country is of the third country type. He lives mainly on growing rice and fruit that he exports in exchange for secondary materials.

Many NGOs are in the country to help the local population in quite varied fields such as (Assistance for the construction of water wells, toilets, crops ...).

The Tonle Sap also plays a big role in the country's economy through fishing.

The textile industry is also present even if in fact, it remains vulnerable to foreign competition, because of its lack of infrastructure, its recurring social unrest, the low weight of local management in the strategic decisions of the total dependence on external markets for the supply of raw materials.

The tourism is also a source of significant income for the country with these beaches in the south and the city of Angkor Wat further north.

Very variable depending on where you go but know that there are two main seasons:

Rainy season and dry season.

The country is located at low altitude, either at the river level or lower, so that the rainy season increases the level of lakes and the main river: the Mekong. Nearly 80% of rainfall in one year falls during the rainy season. Temperatures range between 10 °C and 38 °C ( 50°F / 100°F) with sensations that can go to 45 °C (113°F) in the dry season.

Cambodia is under the influence of a tropical climate with "alternate seasons". The rains range from May to November. Drought, meanwhile, is almost absolute between December and April.

The average annual percentage of humidity is: 79.0%

By the wat, it is difficult to recommend a particular season even if our tastes are more focused on the rainy season.

We must distinguish the cost of living in large cities (so-called tourist cities) and the countryside.

The Khmer generally live very simply. Often in houses that do not have all the necessary comforts that we know in the more industrialized countries.

  Depending on your lifestyle and especially that of food, you can spend for a meal between $ 1.5 and $ 20 (see more)

It is customary to haggle in the country (except shops displaying prices). Often you can divide by 4 or 3 the advertised price.
A tip of 2000 Riels is generally welcome when you go to the restaurant.

Whatever the season, bring light clothing and comfortable shoes to visit the different monuments. Local mosquitoes spray (bio) are available here, no need to clutter.

For women, a shirt covering the shoulders and shorts or pants (light) covering the knees is mandatory for visiting some temples ( dress code).

Sun protection for fragile skin.

Do you prefer to use Euros (possibility of exchange on the spot) (50/100/200 euro notes) or dollars (1/5/10/20/50/100$) . There are cash machines mainly in the big cities, but when withdrawing, you will be charged 4 to 5$ per transaction plus the costs of your bank in Europe or US.

In the big cities, we mainly use the dollar, in the countryside the Riel is more customary. However, it is not uncommon for a purchase to pay in dollars and to have a currency back in Riel .. Check your currency back when it comes to dollars. Bank notes must not be torn or broken, otherwise they will be refused on a new purchase. The $ 2 bill is virtually non-existent in Cambodia and is therefore hardly accepted by merchants.

Again, it all depends on your taste but here are some examples of what you can see or do in Siem Reap
 

• Visit of Angkor City,

• Floating village on Tonle Sap,

• Koh Ker,

• Beng Mealea,

• Banteay Srey,

• National Museum,

• Craftsmen Of Angkor,

• Rice fields (depend of season)

• Phnom Khrom,

• the Central Market,

• Pub Street,

• Night markets.

check out the excursions page for more info

Discover this magnificent city classified as World Heritage by UNECSO. You can take a discovery pass of one, three or seven days.

Pass cost per person: 1 day $37, 3 days $62, 7 days $72. The pass also gives you access to some sites such as Banteay Srey, Phnom Krom .... You can use the 3-day pass on a whole week and the 7-day pass on a month. Which means that you can alternate your visits to the city of Angkor Wat.

You will find something to eat in the city and for our customers we provide fresh bottled water for free. It is essential to hydrate when you are outside.

It all depends of course what you want to visit or do in Cambodia.

Whatever you want to do or visit in Cambodia, you must give you moments of relaxation because the heat is often a handicap as well as the duration of bus trips.

As an indication, it takes between 7 and 10 days to enjoy your stay on Siem Reap.

Displacements are very long in Cambodia. This is due to two main factors:

- The state of the roads

- A totally different driving from what we know and which can sometimes be dangerous for the uninitiated.

There are two international airports where you can easily arrive in Cambodia Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. From Europe, the best solution is to take a flight with a stop in a country like the Emirates and then go to Bangkok (Thailand). There is no direct flight from Europe or the American continent. Once in Bangkok, you will have the opportunity to take a flight to Phnom Penh or Siem Reap.

However, be careful with the weight of luggage because often these companies are very restrictive.

Travel in the country is mainly by bus (low cost) but also by air (see destinations served http://www.rallybel.com/links_airports_khm.html).

The visa can be obtained upon arrival for $ 35, 2 passport-sized passport size photos, the flight return ticket or proof that you will leave the country, as well as the visa application form to be completed.

Before you arrive in Siem Reap, you will be given an arrival / departure document that you will need to complete.

If, as we hope, you have decided to stay with us, we will of course be happy to accommodate you but also to make you discover little places, not tourist. We used to join our guests during excursions.

We can also advise you some restaurants, help you in your purchases, in short, we are at your disposal to make your stay with us a real experience.

Always be respectful of the people and places you visited. The custom when you enter a house or place of worship is to decouple yourself. It's a mark of respect.

The inhabitants are charming people and will not hesitate to invite you to participate in a "party".

​

Driving motorized vehicles (motorcycles) is not allowed for people with a tourist visa. However, many rental companies do not care about this ban. You have to know that in case of problem (accident) your stay can become a real nightmare and cost you a lot of money. The formalities for declaring accidents are very long and very often you will be in your pocket for the reimbursement of the damage you have caused (including bodily injury to others). For these reasons, we strongly advise against renting a motorcycle.